Escaping Obamacare automatic enrollment

I’ve heard that everyone at work is going to be automatically enrolled in the health plan. I travel a lot for business, and often miss the enrollment period. Can an employer force you to take the health insurance plan if you miss the deadline to opt out? I do not want to be covered!

Makes My Own Choices

DearMakes My Own Choices,

No, they cannot force you to take the plan. They can, however, enroll you and then require you to go through the opt-out process. Your employer is ahead of the game – the Affordable Care Act (“health reform” or “Obamacare”) does not require employers to auto-enroll employees yet. The rules for auto-enrollment are not yet out, but are expected by 2014. Until then, employers can stay with the voluntary enrollment process.